Truck Dispatcher Technology Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which report in a TMS would a dispatcher use to evaluate on-time delivery performance over the past month?
- Driver payroll summary
- On-time delivery (OTD) performance report (Correct answer)
- Fuel surcharge invoice log
- Equipment maintenance schedule
Correct answer: On-time delivery (OTD) performance report
The on-time delivery report aggregates pickup and delivery timestamps against scheduled windows to measure service performance.
Question 2: A carrier uses a cloud-based TMS. What is the key advantage of cloud-based over locally installed software?
- It works only on desktop computers
- It can be accessed from any device with internet and updates automatically (Correct answer)
- It stores data only on the company server
- It requires no training to use
Correct answer: It can be accessed from any device with internet and updates automatically
Cloud-based TMS platforms allow remote access from any internet-connected device and receive automatic software updates without manual IT intervention.
Question 3: What does API integration between a TMS and a customer's ordering system allow dispatchers to do?
- Manually re-enter orders from customer emails
- Receive load orders automatically without manual data entry (Correct answer)
- Print paper bills of lading from the customer portal
- Send invoices only via fax
Correct answer: Receive load orders automatically without manual data entry
API integration passes order data directly from the customer's system into the TMS, eliminating manual entry and reducing errors.
Question 4: A dispatcher notices that the GPS location of a truck has not updated in 45 minutes. What is the MOST likely technical cause?
- The driver is speeding
- The tracking device lost cellular signal or has a connectivity issue (Correct answer)
- The TMS server is overloaded
- The driver turned off the air conditioning
Correct answer: The tracking device lost cellular signal or has a connectivity issue
GPS ping failures are most commonly caused by poor or lost cellular connectivity in rural or signal-dead areas.
Question 5: Which software feature allows a dispatcher to see ALL active trucks on a single map view in real time?
- Load board search
- Fleet tracking dashboard (Correct answer)
- Driver performance scorecard
- Payroll processing module
Correct answer: Fleet tracking dashboard
A fleet tracking dashboard displays the live GPS position of all active vehicles on a map, enabling dispatchers to monitor the entire fleet simultaneously.
Question 6: What is the benefit of using electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) over paper signatures?
- It eliminates the need for a driver signature entirely
- It captures digital signatures and timestamps that sync instantly to the TMS (Correct answer)
- It only works for LTL shipments
- It requires a special printer in the cab
Correct answer: It captures digital signatures and timestamps that sync instantly to the TMS
ePOD captures a digital signature and timestamp at delivery that automatically uploads to the TMS, creating an instant, searchable record.
Question 7: When setting up a new driver in a TMS, which data field is MOST critical for ensuring correct Hours of Service tracking?
- Driver's personal phone number
- Driver's home terminal time zone (Correct answer)
- Driver's truck color preference
- Driver's favorite route corridor
Correct answer: Driver's home terminal time zone
The home terminal time zone determines how the ELD calculates the driver's 24-hour reset period under FMCSA Hours of Service rules.
Truck Dispatcher Technology Skills 3
Which report in a TMS would a dispatcher use to evaluate on-time delivery performance over the past month?